Criminal Alien Removal Clarification Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6057
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-17: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-10T09:06:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Criminal Alien Removal Clarification Act of 2025" (H.R. 6057) aims to strengthen immigration enforcement by expanding the grounds for deporting non-citizens who have committed certain crimes. It clarifies and broadens the rules under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to make deportation mandatory for those with specific criminal convictions.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 237(a)(2) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) by adding a new subsection (G).
- Under this new provision, any non-citizen (referred to as an "alien" in the law) who, after entering the U.S., is convicted of one felony (a serious crime, typically punishable by more than one year in prison) or two misdemeanors (less serious crimes, often punishable by up to one year in jail) under either state or federal law becomes deportable.
- The convictions must occur at any time after the individual's admission to the U.S., regardless of when the crimes happened.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The current INA already allows deportation for serious crimes like aggravated felonies (e.g., murder, drug trafficking) or certain misdemeanors involving moral turpitude (crimes showing dishonesty or immorality). This bill expands deportability to any felony conviction or any two misdemeanor convictions, without requiring the crimes to be aggravated or involve moral turpitude.
- It removes nuances in existing law that might allow some individuals with lesser or non-violent convictions to avoid deportation, making the grounds broader and more automatic.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) entities would likely see an increase in deportation cases, requiring more resources for investigations, hearings, and removals.
- On citizens: Indirect effects could include changes in local communities with immigrant populations, such as family separations or shifts in workforce dynamics in areas with high non-citizen labor.
- On non-citizens: Many legal permanent residents (green card holders) and other immigrants with criminal records could face swift deportation proceedings, potentially disrupting lives, businesses, and families.
- On international relations: Could lead to more deportations to other countries, straining diplomatic ties if receiving nations face influxes of returnees or dispute U.S. convictions; might also influence bilateral agreements on immigration and crime.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Non-citizen immigrants: Primarily those with felony or multiple misdemeanor convictions, including legal residents, visa holders, and undocumented individuals, who risk losing status and being removed from the U.S.
- Immigration enforcement agencies: DHS, ICE, and immigration courts, which would handle expanded caseloads.
- Families and communities: U.S. citizen or resident family members of affected immigrants, as well as employers and local economies reliant on immigrant labor.
- State and federal criminal justice systems: Prosecutors, courts, and law enforcement, whose conviction records would trigger immigration consequences.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal implications: Broadens deportation authority under the INA, potentially leading to more challenges in immigration courts over what counts as a qualifying conviction (e.g., expunged records or juvenile offenses). It may increase reliance on criminal databases for immigration decisions.
- Constitutional implications: Could raise due process concerns (fair hearing rights under the Fifth Amendment) if deportations proceed without individualized reviews of crime severity or rehabilitation. Equal protection issues might arise if the law disproportionately affects certain ethnic or national groups, though it applies neutrally to all non-citizens.
- Political implications: Reflects a focus on stricter immigration enforcement, likely appealing to supporters of tougher border and interior policies; it could spark debates on balancing public safety with humanitarian considerations in immigration law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (23)
Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-17: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-11-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Criminal Alien Removal Clarification Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-17 — PDF (2 pages)